Elm tree named ‘UAMTF’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of Winged Elm tree named ‘UAMTF’ substantially as herein shown, illustrated and described, characterized particularly as to novelty by its strong central leader as well as the refined, graceful branching which is attained through minimal and insignificant cork-like wings in comparison to the heavy wings evident in seedling Winged Elm. These form differences, along with its resistance to the powdery mildew and other leaf-borne illnesses found in seedling Winged Elm makes my selection uniquely different from all known patent selections and seedlings.

Latin name of genus and species: Ulmus alata.

Varietal denomination: Winged Elm tree which I have named ‘UAMTF’.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not applicable.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of WingedElm tree (Ulmus alata), which I have named ‘UAMTF’.

Discovery

The new Ulmus alata is a product of chance discovery. The new variety‘UAMTF’ is the result of a selection made by the inventor, Dwayne Moon,from an Ulmus alata found in the wild in October of 2007 from a field inOconee County, Ga. Evaluation of this tree continues in a field inOconee County, Ga.

Propagation

‘UAMTF’ was asexually propagated by grafting softwood cuttings at thedirection of Dwayne Moon from May 1^(st) through Aug. 1, 2008 inLoganville, Walton County, Ga. The propagation process is done byselecting actively growing shoot tips, taking cuttings, and applyingrooting hormones (K-IBA at 3000 ppm) with intramural mist every 10minutes for 30 seconds with a 30% increase after rooting in mistduration every day on and off until cuttings are weaned off to dailywater regiment. Initial rooting takes place in three to four weeks. Thispropagation from rooted cuttings results in a progeny which has proventhe characteristics of my new variety to be genetically stable.Furthermore, these observations have confirmed that my new varietyrepresents a new and improved variety of Winged Elm tree as particularlyevidenced by the its minimal and insignificant cork-like wings on thebranches as well as its vase-like shape with a strong central leader. Itis also disease resistant to the powdery mildew and other leaf-borneillnesses found in seedling Winged Elm. These genetic traits can beconsistently reproduced by asexual propagation.

Uniqueness

‘UAMTF’ was a chance discovery found in a field (unknown Ulmus alataparents) in Oconee, Ga. I claim that the genetic characteristics of thistree are the result of naturally occurring cross-pollination. Thecharacteristics of my new tree distinguish it from other typicalseedling Winged Elm trees and the known cultivars. At the time this treewas selected, I observed ‘UAMTF’ Winged Elm as a 10 inch caliper treeexhibiting pyramidal growth habit with a strong central leader alongwith minimal and insignificant cork-like wings on the branches. SeedlingWinged Elm has extensive and wide-spread cork-like wings appearing onopposite sides of twigs and branches along with a variable form canopyfrom pyramidal to vase or rounded with pendulous branches. ‘UAMTF’Winged Elm is also disease resistant to the powdery mildew and otherleaf-borne illnesses found in seedling Winged Elm.

Use

‘UAMTF’ was observed for a period of 10 years and is believed to beparticularly useful as a specimen tree in commercial and residentialareas, for street tree planting and in large areas such as golf courses,commercial sites and parks as well as meeting native speciesrequirements for urban forest and municipality requirements. ‘UAMTF”will also benefit growers who will profit from the desired look of ahigh quality tree due to its strong central leader as well as therefined, graceful branching which is attained through minimal andinsignificant cork-like wings in comparison to the heavy wings evidentin seedling Winged Elm. It has also proven to be disease resistant tothe powdery mildew and other leaf-borne illnesses found in seedlingWinged Elm.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Background

Seedling Winged Elm has a variable form canopy from pyramidal to vase orrounded with pendulous branches. It is most easily recognized by thevery broad, thin pair of corky wings that form along the branchletsafter a couple of years. Mature native Winged Elm trees aremedium-sized, 40 to 50 feet in height with a spread of 30 to 40 feet;some native specimens can reach 90 feet or more in height. In nurserysettings, Winged Elm trees often require a significant amount of effortto maintain a central leader. My Winged Elm tree ‘UAMTF’ is animprovement over the species in that it has a pyramidal growth habitwith a strong central leader as well as the refined, graceful branchingwhich is attained through minimal and insignificant cork-like wings incomparison to seedling Winged Elm. It is also disease resistant to thepowdery mildew and other leaf-borne illnesses found in seedling WingedElm.

Winged Elm is native to the southeastern corner of the United States,from southern Virginia west to the Ohio valley and Texas, and south intoFlorida. Winged Elm adapts well to both dry, gravely soils or moist,well-drained areas. They are commonly found in upland woods and floodplains. Growth rate is often very slow, the trunk increasing in diameterby less than 5 mm ( 3/16 in) per year. It has a green leaf in summerchanging to yellow in the fall. My new cultivar differs from the speciesin that it is asexually propagated by the method of rooted cuttingswhich creates a pyramidal growth habit with a strong central leader aswell having minimal and insignificant cork-like wings in comparison tothat of seedling Winged Elm. It has also proven to be resistant to thepowdery mildew and other leaf-borne illnesses found in Winged Elm. Theultimate height and width of ‘UAMTF’ is not known. I expect my newvariety of Winged Elm tree ‘UAMTF’ to perform as well as the species.

Industry Representation

Cultivated Winged Elm tree is predominantly represented in the industryby seedling material reproduced sexually through seed production andseedling establishment with some cultivars. This accounts for a highdegree of variability in the industry, both in the landscape andnursery. Seedling Winged Elm tree is variable in growth rate, habit, andleaf characteristics, and overall consistency is difficult to maintainin a production system.

The Manual of Woody Landscape Plants (6^(th) ed.) lists one known WingedElm cultivar which is known as ‘Lace Parasol’ (not patented). Thepresent cultivar ‘UAMTF’ differs from ‘Lace Parasol’ in that ‘LaceParasol’ is usually grafted onto either Ulmus alata or Ulmus parvifoliarootstock, has a weeping shape with a height of 8 to 12 feet and a widthof 10 to 15 feet along with heavy cork-like wings. ‘UAMTF’ is asexuallyreproduced with pyramidal growth habit with a strong central leader, hasan approximate height of 30′ and a width of 20′, as well as the refined,graceful branching which is attained through minimal and insignificantcork-like wings with a disease resistance to the powdery mildew. Thesedifferences make my selection uniquely different from all known patentselections and seedlings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying photographs depict the color of the tree and foliage ofmy new Winged Elm tree as nearly as is reasonably possible to make thesame in a color illustration of this character.

FIG. 1 shows a selection taken in the wild from a field in OconeeCounty, Ga. in October of 2007;

FIG. 2 taken of a field block shows the progeny of my new variety;

FIG. 3 shows the overall fall color of the claimed cultivar;

FIG. 4 shows the summer foliage of my new variety;

FIG. 5 shows the new growth foliage of my new variety;

FIG. 6 shows the strong central leader and pyramidal growth habit of mynew variety;

FIG. 7 shows the trunk and bark of my new variety;

FIG. 8 shows the flower of my new variety;

FIG. 9 shows the fruit of my new variety;

FIG. 10 shows the side by side comparison of the very minimal corkywing-like projections of the claimed cultivar compared to the heavycorky wing-like projections which appear on opposite sides of thebranches of the seedling Winged Elm tree.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Botanical Description of the Plant

The following is a detailed description of ‘UAMTF’ Winged Elm tree withcolor terminology in accordance with The Royal Horticulture Society(R.H.S.) Colour Chart (2001) except where the context indicates a termhaving its ordinary dictionary meaning.

The named cultivar has not been observed under all growing conditions,and variations may occur as a result of different growing conditions.All progeny of my new variety, insofar as have been observed by theinventor, have remained genetically stable in all characteristicsdescribed hereinafter. Other than as set out hereinafter, as of thistime, no other characteristics have been observed by the inventordifferent from common Winged Elm trees.

-   Scientific name: Ulmus alata ‘UAMTP’.-   Parentage: Chance discovery by the inventor, Dwayne Moon, of a    selection found in the wild in October 2007 from a field in Oconee,    Ga.-   Propagation:    -   -   Root description.—The named cultivar is grafted onto            seedling rootstocks, so the root system is expected to be            typical of the species, which is somewhat coarse.-   Tree:    -   -   Growth habit.—Pyramidal shape with upright branch structure            and a strong central leader.        -   In a container or in the ground.—In ground.        -   Height.—Approximately 18 feet at 5 years.        -   Plant spread.—Approximately 10 feet at 5 years.        -   Growth rate.—Height to width ratio 2-1. Average caliper            growth rate between ¾ to 1 inch per year.        -   Trunk diameter.—Approximately 4 inch caliper measured at 12            inches above the ground at 5 years. Rises through the canopy            and maintains a central leader.        -   Trunk bark texture.—The bark of a young tree has corky            wings; the bark of a mature tree has flat plates separated            by shallow fissures.        -   Branch diameter.—1.5-2 cm.        -   Branch texture.—Smooth with minimal cork-like wings.        -   Branch color.—Brown like N200A.-   Leaves:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate.        -   Type.—Simple.        -   Sheen.—Satiny to slightly glossy.        -   Shape of leaf blade.—Ovate-oblong to oblong-lanceolate.        -   Leaf apex shape.—Acute or acuminate.        -   Leaf base shape.—Cuneate.        -   Leaf margin characteristics.—Doubly-serrate.        -   Description of any leaf pubescence.—Glabrous above with            axillary tufts below.        -   Leaf length.—3 cm to 7 cm.        -   Leaf width.—2.5 cm to 3.8 cm.        -   Leaf internode length.—About 2 cm.        -   Leaf venation description.—Pinnate.        -   Petiole length.—About 3 mm.        -   Petiole diameter.—1.5 mm.        -   Petiole color.—Yellow-green like (RHS 146D).        -   Petiole texture.—Pubescent.        -   Spring leaf color.—First emerging leaves are green like (RHS            138B).        -   Summer leaf color.—Upper leaf surface is a dark green            foliage like (RHS 137A) while the lower leaf surface is a            lighter green foliage like (RHS 137C). The center vein is            yellow-green like (RHS 146D).        -   Fall color.—Yellow like (RHS 1A).-   Flowers:    -   -   Overall.—Small, insignificant, greyed red like (RHS 180B),            in clusters, appearing March to April before leaf buds open.            About 6 mm in length, consisting of a light green calyx with            five rounded lobes (up to 9 lobes).        -   There are 4 to 10 small flowers per cluster which average 6            mm in diameter.        -   Shape.—Pendulous.        -   Size.—Individual flowers have an average diameter of 6 mm.        -   Color.—Greyed-red like (RHS 180B).        -   Anthers.—Greyed purple like (RHS 183B).        -   Pistils.—Greyed green like (RHS 193D).        -   Sepals.—Petal-like lobes, length 0.6 mm, width 0.4 mm,            texture fine, margin smooth, color (both surfaces) reddish            orange like (RHS 172A).        -   Petals.—Length 1 mm, width 0.5 mm, texture smooth and fine,            margin smooth, color (both surfaces) reddish orange like            (RHS 172B).        -   Stamen.—About 5 to 9 stamens. Length about 2 mm to 3 mm.            Diameter about 0.5 mm. Color: yellow green like (RHS 154B).        -   Pollen.—Yellow like (RHS 10B).        -   Pedicel.—Pedicels are slender. Length: 1.5 cm. Color: yellow            green like (RHS 145A).        -   Fragrance.—None.        -   Flowering season.—Flowering in early to late winter to early            spring.        -   Flower longevity on plant.—Individual flowers last about 1            to 2 weeks on the plant; flowers not persistent.-   Buds:    -   -   Length.—6 mm.        -   Color.—Greyed red like (RHS 178B).        -   Shape.—Spherical.-   Fruit: Flowers replaced by flat, hairy samaras that become mature    during mid-spring before vernal leaves fully develop. Samaras about    7 to 10 mm long and about one-half as much across, typically    yellow-green like RHS (145C). At tip of each samara, there is a pair    of narrow curved claws.

OTHER CHARACTERISICS

-   Pathogen and pest resistance: Trees of the new Ulmus alata have been    observed to be resistant to powdery mildew and other leaf-borne    illnesses common to Ulmus alata trees.-   Temperature tolerance: The new Ulmus alata is suitable for growing    in USDA zones 6 through 9.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Winged Elmtree named ‘UAMTF’ substantially as herein shown, illustrated anddescribed, characterized particularly as to novelty by its strongcentral leader as well as the refilled, graceful branching which isattained through minimal and insignificant cork-like wings in comparisonto the heavy wings evident in seedling Winged Elm, along with itsresistance to the powdery mildew and other leaf-borne illnesses found inseedling Winged Elm.